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Chapter 38
Here we are!
Harry was in the air, reflexively, before he could think twice about it, it was around four in the morning and he yawned. He should've stayed in Grimmauld, on his comfortable bed enjoying his sleep next to a lovely Daphne.
Her blonde strands between his fingers, she broke his heart when she cut it off, but her feminine touch to his skin let him forgive her. Her kisses that he should stop letting her have her way through them, they both knew that she should stop but she kept pressing those lips on his and he enjoyed every second of their flavour. For her health he should stop, she keeps giving him her magic through those kisses, to keep him standing on those white nights off toward his hunts, he opened his book to read about the type of hell gates, this far only three to four level gates keep opening up for the little demons, this far he didn't encounter any general, It was pointless to read those words, so he laid his head on the broom and let the book back into his bag. "Man! This is tiring, the increase of gates is unbelievable these days,"
His goal was to aime and capture one, someone like Azezel… he still remembers the hell on earth of that general, he had a twisted way to come between the royal family and caused damage to the entire mesopotamia. Those lords rarely show up and he has only two years to stop them. He needed information about their activities, their servants and covens… and the only one who knows about them is someone who was deeply involved, someone that was ready to start a war.
Argai Vasilian…
Harry's biggest problem now, that he cannot meet him unless he has the approval of the council to enter the prison. And to do that he needs the favour of the king himself.
He let out a loud sigh, "I will need a long vacation after this!"
The squid is coming for us! He is coming for us, Help us!
Harry's eyebrows knitted and let another annoyed groan. It was a restless job, he was glad that it was rarely happening during the daylight but he missed being lazy with his friends around.
He looked over the lake looking for the source of this sudden alert, it was raising and it was not the merpeople, something else was scared of the squid, he needed to find that monster first and push him away. Harry tried to listen to the call again , pointing his wand and gathering some attacking magic at the pointy edge of his wand, and… three … two… one.
"Found you!" He smiled, shooting a spell like a strike of thunder to the water.
He scared the squid away and looked around the area and lowered, waiting if the beast may attack him but the latter swam away.
Harry used a bubbling spell and plungedhis head under the water and his face morphed in a big smile on his face at the tiny gathering of small water pixies hiding behind green leaves, " You are safe now!" He pointed his wand and made a good ward to make sure the Squid won't come after the little tribe again.
He didn't notice what was right behind him. He was about to turn around when he felt something thick and sticky wrap around his leg. Harry looked down, flinching in shock. A green tentacle had clamped down, pulling roughly with its wide bulbous suction cups.
He had not even a moment to squeal "Unhand me!"
Before it yanked at his leg, flinging him straight into the open sky. Yelling several insults and slurs.
Harry had a short memory loss, he forgot that he was still holding his broom before his face was about to get a slap that was worth hundreds of his wife. He used his magic with the broom to pull him away from the water, but another tentacle reached up, snatching him out of the air. Without pausing, the tentacle dragged him down, sinking him into the water.
Harry's hand was still clinching the broom, fighting the gravity of the tentacle and the pressure of both water under him and the air loss.
The touch was tightening with every second passed.
And Harry shot a few unharmful spells at the squid to release him.
Harry had to think quicker, holding the remaining oxygen in his lungs while the squid dove further, right down to the floor of the lake. Down to the twilight zone where the crystal water was gloomy and cold.
He had fought snakes , dragons, gargoyles and demon hordes, killed one of his professors, found out his lost hidden heritage, got married and almost died, now about to turn a father and …all before he was sixteen.
So yeah, shit happens to him all the time, he was not in the mood for a squid game, he was hungry and he could cook this stupid giant tentacled fish.
'Confringo' he thought as he attacked, wordlessly.
The moment he was released like a bloody prisoner under attack, he used his ultimate speed broom and fleet away. "Why does it always to be at dawn?" He groaned to himself, this was the worst job he ever had. Why do the monsters become energetic to lurk only at this hour? This hero complex will kill him one day eventually, if it was not from some attack. He shivered, casting a drying charm over his wet clothes, he tilted his neck and felt a knot there.
Harry was desperate at this hour for a massage. He was glad that he took with him his nimbus this time, he wouldn't be able handle the apparating at this moment, What a bloody charming wizard he was.
Harry catapulted over the lake. Hanging in the air, He saw everything. A beautiful stone castle, a deep dark forest stretching into the distance, A deep shimmering lake…
It sounded peaceful, Hogwarts was at sight at last, as the moon shone its silvery light to the Gryffindor tower where his friends slept. Ron and Neville's snoring interrupted the quiet every now and then,but no one woke up: they were so used to hearing them, Harry chuckled at the images playing in his head.
Everyone was in the sweet realms of sleep, the kind of sleep teenage boys were supposed to have. Well, except for him. The expression on Harry was like a wet sad puppy dog.
"I'm hungry!" The words fetch thrummed through him as his eyes passed over the stands of Hogwarts where the dog Sirius had once come to watch him play, before he had fallen from his broom in response to the dementors. Harry thought he could almost feel them now; an unseasonably chilly breeze ruffled his hair, and he certainly felt close to despair, though he did not hear his mother's voice.
He continued to scan the area with memories, he was happy that he got the opportunity to play again.
Harry wondered what McGonagall would say if she saw him at this—it seemed quite unlikely that she would approve, but Harry was now the chosen one, he was not arrogant to use his new role, but did he have time to benefit from this.
No, he doesn't and if he had, he sleeps during it.
Suddenly, Harry was alerted, sensing some familiar magic in the pitch. Glaring down, he spotted movement near ground level at the edge of the pitch, and he instinctively tore off in pursuit of it,
"Ron!" he called, his voice gentle and tinged with sudden doubt. He saw his friend sitting on the ground, his back against the woody wall, the latter when he heard his name, snapped up as Harry reached closer to the ground.
"Blimey, Harry, what the bloody—"
Harry slumped, when he noticed what his mate was doing, "Why are you up here? Smoking?"
"same as you! Escaping the dorm again!" Ron heard Harry expel a breath in a great whoosh, as he leapt from the broom beside him. Harry closed his eyes, ran both hands again through his hair, which was now sticking in every direction but up, and stood perfectly frozen.
"You can say that!" Harry frightened a heart attack, before shoving playfully his best friend on the shoulder, "it's a beautiful tonight!" he sighed.
Ron however felt as though his chest were constricting, and he suddenly wished nothing more than to be back in their dormitory, the curtains on his four-poster bed drawn, airtight.
It was a bit uncomfortable, his best friend was next to him laughing and relaxing, carefree.
"Did you buy it from the twins?" The question confused the redhead, but Harry pointed at the cigarette in Ron's hand. "It's not good man!"
"speaks the drunk of Gryffindor," Ron scoffed.
"Awch!" Harry's eyebrows knitted, " better than the golden boy-who-lived," He sat and took it from Ron to his lips, he rarely smokes, he was no saint, the forbidden is a delicious desire to try for the first time and eventually, Harry tried smoking before.
Inhaling it down, if Daphne saw him would tell him to jog around the pitch for thirty rounds.
Ron glanced from the corner at his best friend who sat silently enjoying his cigarette and he decided to take a new one. Harry's eyes changed, the excitement of life died, Harry was happy to be in Hogwarts and eager even if he had to go through hell against Voldemort, he loved his life here with them. This year before he left, he was tense, brooding, angry, and ready to lash out not out of anger but out of defence. It was as if the slightest movement was an attack from You Know Who. It was rather terrifying to see.
But this Harry was different, he changed in a short amount of time, as if he was forced to remain in Hogwarts, and his mind was always elsewhere.
The mask of recklessness and act of a marauder he was putting on didn't go past Hermione and Ron. They didn't buy it, they couldn't ask either.
"What happened?" Harry was the first who asked without looking at him and Ron flushed, was he glaring too much at his best friend.
"What happened to you?" Ron fought back.
"Night swim,"
"Couldn't sleep," Ron simply answered.
"Well, are you hungry? Because I am, Dobby!" Harry called the elf and asked him to bring him some quick food. Harry was hungry after fighting a giant squid.
"Oh, come on mate, what happened to you?"
"I found out that squids don't like me…" Harry sighed, taking another drag.
Ron laughed so hard after that, when Harry told him that the squid tried to fuck him a few minutes ago, Dobby showed up with food and Harry couldn't be happier, "I swear that I will make a salade of you, tentacles shit!"
"I was thinking about summer," Ron finally admitted.
"The Death Eaters?"
"No."
"Oh, Thinking about it, we never went to the beach together, wanna go?" Harry said, nodding sagely.
"No! I mean yes… I mean what about Surrey?" Ron wondered.
Harry took a large bite, that surprised Ron, "Not going back there mate,"
"What, you're going to stay with us!? You will, right?"
Harry smiled, tenderly, Ron's family is running through financial problems at the moment and he tried to make it up indirectly, Ron still wanted him around, that was precious.
"I think I will look for some summer job," he said, deep down he knew that Ron was shy to look by himself, and the latter was reading that section in the daily prophet a lot recently, the twins are preparing for their own business and Ron couldn't take the risk and join their gamble.
"I was thinking the same! Bill is overworking, the twins busy and Charlie is away, I don't want mum to work! I know she's doing something for the order, I don't want her to do anything!"
Was this how Ron felt, he thought that the order pitied them, he talked with Remus about it, and Molly was willing to keep an eye on Daphne and take care of her, it wasn't a charity.
Molly had a big role in their lives, " Someone told me, " The days that come never be like the days that go, but if we keep thinking about it, we will never move on," Harry stated, glaring at the sky. "I think that's a great idea, getting a summer job! Any preferences? I got your back in case Mrs Weasley says something!"
"Maybe, but it's much more likely," Ron replied. "So that's how it is, how do you do it?"
Harry turned to him for a second before leaning against the wall. "Do what?"
"Moving on…"
"Well, it depends, if I want to work it means I should stop brooding and smocking,"
"I'm not brooding!"
Harry gave him an unconvinced glare.
"Truly," Ron stated, touched by the boy's honesty. He sighed loudly before he finally decided to talk, "I was at first, back at Christmas, you all tried to ease it on us, I'm grateful truly, However I saw you with Sirius and and I felt awfully jealous of you, how immature of me, never expected that it would…" Ron shrugged the sad memories, "you didn't share with us your grievance Harry, Mione thinks you are shoving us away!"
"I don't! I would never!" Harry snapped.
"I suppose that's understandable," Ron allowed thoughtfully. "How did you do it… acceptance?"
Harry gave himself a second to think of Ron's words.. A lot has happened, he barely has time anymore to act like a teenager, not even in these rare moments with his best friend to share some fun. But his friend's life is more important than his secrets, he was becoming a father and he was literally an assassin or hunter now! Hunting every gate he finds around, Harry was hunting the future, thinking every day that if he failed, that future will come true.
He was ready to put his life for his family and friends, he doesn't want any more funerals.
He was not a dumb, death is the ending line to everyone, even death to himself.
"I didn't, I regret every second that I live that I couldn't save Sirius… it was all over again like with Cedric," he finally spoke for the first time about it to someone, " I refused to accept his sudden leave, he was imprisoned, the worst end for him, he would rather choose avada ," Harry chuckled darkly.
"... If I neglect this soul that those who died in order for it to survive, it is an insult to their memory,"
Ron was at first confused by Harry's words, while he was in deep thinking of its meaning, Harry continued, "you know? Life is a tree, and we are nothing but leaves on its branches, we fall and wither with time, that is our funeral. But the tree remains steadfast and new leaves sprout after it. These trees are nothing but our legacy.
They take our place, but they remain like us, bearing our name, they fall, and others come, the circle of life remains until the end of days."
"Month away and you become a Dumbledore," Ron's face finally lightened up and joked, Harry blinked dumbfounded before both of them burst laughing.
After a long silence Ron glared up, "What was Dumbledore thinking by arranging this game?" the redhead asked pointing at the game board, "Hogwarts Vs Durmstrang,"
"No fucking idea," Harry massaged his neck, uncomfortable, wishing that three days ago didn't enter a certain office.
"Tartarus," he muttered; the password to the Headmaster's office.
Before he climbed he felt a certain energy coming and wished to backup but it seems his presence was already known, alright Harry , just smile and go through it . After climbing the stairs, he knocked on the door, all the while calming and reassuring his nerves
"Come in," came the sound from inside.
He entered as the door opened. The office looked as majestic as it normally was, portraits were all asleep, books and trinkets were arranged on the beautiful shelves, and the window on the left side provided a beautiful view of School grounds.
Headmaster himself was writing something on the parchment. While the guest was looking around, Harry coughed and the headmaster said,
"Good afternoon Mr. Potter, Please take a seat."
"Thank you," greeting back, he remained at the door and bowed his head, "Good afternoon Your grace,"
Phobos turned his head and beamed, "Brother! perfect timing!"
Harry took a second to understand that the king called him a brother, it was not a good sign, the headmaster barely reacted, continuing on whatever was he writing. He took the other chair in front of the Headmaster.
"I was talking to Professor Dumbledore about the new minister, what do you think?"
"I'm not enlightened in politics, if your grace sees him right then he is!"
"Well, he will raise the curfew can't say that the circles of pureblood will like it, not that teenagers this days are not reckless with their magic activities too, "
As Harry took the seat, Headmaster Dumbledore looked up from the parchment. His face, as always, was an effigy of calm and mystical power, very easily betraying his actual age.
Phobos took the parchment and scanned the content and gave an affirmative nod, he jumped off his chair and headed towards the door,
As he reached the door, remembering something.
"Ah now that I remembered, they told me you are a great quidditch player Harry?" He turned to him.
Harry hesitated but nodded, "they are exaggerating, your grace. Besides I'm not in the team anymore,"
"Why!? i really want to see you play," Phobos pouted but lightened quickly," headmaster! Why don't you arrange a game between schools? I think it will be a good opportunity to forget about the recent events, and perhaps my brother here can show me his rather famous talent!"
It was at that moment that both the headmaster and the chosen one were defeated by a young adult king and his desire to see a quidditch school game.
...
Which brings them to this moment. The sound of a beep indicating that Professor Hooch is present, whistled in Harry's ear.
"It is lovely to see all of you interested in the game between schools," the professor said, delighted and amazed.
Harry glared around and saw a lot of players from different houses, like him all of them wanted to get the opportunity to play against Viktor Krum, even Draco seemed excited about it, Harry can't blame him, he felt the same.
Perhaps Phobos's idea was a great thing at the end, a good distraction to the students.
The teacher continued her speech, "However, you know the rules, not all can play, which is why…"
"We decided to join!"
"And pick the players to avoid embarrassment."
Harry turned and his eyes widened, he couldn't hold his grinning smile, at the familiar face, "Oliver!"
"Long time no see lions!" He waved and the entire team went up to greet him.
"Drop the drama," the other guy rolled his eyes, and Oliver Wood just smirked, "you were as happy as I am to join, Flint! stop acting cool,"
Marcus Flint shrugged him off and went to his old crew, "you heard the man, snakes!" The former captains broke from the teams and stood in front of them, all serious.
Both former captains stood in front of them and took a breath for their speech.
"Drumstrang holds the best players! The game may be a friendly but we are not going to back down and let them win!" Oliver Wood declared, "Man, why didn't they arrange it when we were still here!" He wanted to cry and the Gryffindors laughed at him.
"Each house will choose four members of their team," Professor Hooch announced.
Harry and Ron shared a glare, it will definitely be tough choice to Johnson as a captain to pick only four out of seven to play, he was about to drop a side but he can't unfortunate because his fucking brother-in-law wanted to see him play.
"–there will be a match for two teams, for 15 minutes, the best players will be included in the game! Good luck to all of you!" Professor Hooch retreated and let the former captains handle the teams.
They mounted their brooms and leaped into the air. After two hours of trying to work together, Harry was on his back, sweating.
"Yes, of course. Great idea, perhaps. I could also accompany Chang," Jonhson said to Flint as he pointed out something to her.
Marcus Flint seemed to have matured, he wanted to win against Drumstrang and he looked over his prejudice, something the other snakes didn't like but didn't say out loud.
"I brought some snacks guys!" Hermione come into the pitch holding a big tray of fresh, accompanied by Neville, Luna and Ginny.
"Hello friends!" Luna waved at them with a dreamy voice.
"The last thing I want is some mud around me, nevertheless feed me," Draco smirked to his gang, disgusted while they laughed.
Harry stopped in his tracks. A cold wave of rage passed over his body. There was a snarl in his throat that made him think of his wand. He was near, but not close enough. He didn't turn back to look at Malfoy. A man should not turn his back to an enemy, Harry knew, even if he believed Malfoy unsuited to a physical attack. Yet, he was frozen. Harry imagined the ice of a frozen-over lake beneath his feet, with rushing water below. But Malfoy was a mere pureblood, who knew nothing about the fragile ground he dared traverse.
"Who said it's for you, tell Parkinson to serve you," Hermione wasn't someone to go without defence.
"You got tongue, now that Potter is back huh," Malfoy paused, as if waiting for Harry to respond.
"The weather is promising Malfoy for another quick game, they haven't chosen a seeker yet!" Harry smiled at Malfoy, he could only bite his tongue, restraining himself. Control your emotions…
Everyone looked with widened eyes at Harry who cares nothing but to unite this team for heaven's sake.
"It is, however, don't go south again Harry, many arms and legs are angry at you," Luna looked at the lake.
Harry blinked, the little ravenclaw was full of wonder and every time she told him something, it did happen. "It was nice of you to play, but don't listen too much to the Sylphs,"
"I will take you for advice, thanks, Luna?"
Luna glared at his eyes with full focus, brushing his face gently with her fingers and resting her fingers on his famous thunder forehead scar. "… I heard that rulers of the sky woke up, and rulers of the hidden land are striking, beware warden of Man…" she almost whispered.
Harry's lips parted for an answer that refused to get out, stuck in his throat. He took into consideration her new words. "Did you see Luna?"
Whatever Luna said, Harry listened closely to every word of it, certainly after a night a month ago when she told him to be careful of the creatures of the east, three nights later he had to fight ogres in the East of France. He almost lost a leg there.
Once he got back he asked her to meet with him in the forbidden forest and wanted answers from her, she answered him with riddles, he got used to it after it, Harry decided to accompany Luna on different occasions after that, spending time listening to her, she always had a welcome aura around her, in a way it always calmed his nerves.
It was a not a big surprise when Luna revealed to him that she was fully aware of his own Awakening and that he didn't need to pretend with her, and Merlin he finally breathed in relief of finding someone other than his wife who listened to the whispers of magic, and who else than the famous cute little Luna Lovegood.
He admired her in a way of not caring less for others opinions, off in her own world. She knows more than she lets on.
"It's good to have a friend who finally could hear and see, as much as I am," she told him as she fed one of the forest fairy creatures while Harry walked right behind her with his grimoire.
"I'm glad as well to be able to talk to someone about it here!" He laughed. " When did you get yours? The awakening, I mean,"
Luna smiled and sighed, "When mum died, at age of nine, I was rather young to understand and father did not had his own Awakening, but he introduced me to who know better, one of mum's colleges at her old job, Corvina Vasilian,"
Harry stopped at the mention of name and glared at Luna, stunned. Luna kept smiling as she narrated her experience with the awakening, "Madam Vasilian teached me how to keep sane of course, I saw her again in a Ball, Father insisted as his heiress for me to attend,"
"Do you know what you want to do with your powers?" He asked her.
"Of course! I was born to be one of those to protect mother nature, you and I were chosen by fate Harry… To see what others can't see, to hear what they can't, they call me lunatic here, I feel pity for them, they would never understand nor will try to understand but it's okay,"
"Luna… are you by any chance, a seer?"
"A dangerous question, Harry James Potter, if I am or if I am not, visions could be dangerous thieves, I advise not to trust them… of the hundreds that you could see, one or two could be real…"
Luna was divine and a good counsellor for him, a person he had liked to keep by his side in times of terrors. But what did she mean by rulers of the sky this time? He wondered, completely forgetting that he was still with people.
"–I envy you, I wish I can play against Krum," he heard Ginny say.
"I don't think I will be the seeker," Harry smiled at her.
Ginny was stunned and replied, "But Harry, you clearly are the best seeker. Are you sure you want to pass up this opportunity?"
"Malfoy is as good as me!" He pointed at him and the entire crowd froze.
"Did I hear correctly?" Ron almost fainted.
"Harry was imperiused!"
"What the fuck!"
"I don't need pity," Draco sneered.
"There is one seeker and I think you could be the one! I will be the backup!" He smiled at him. He thought of some kind of emergency that could happen at the very last minute and disappear in the middle of the game.
"Do you think this is funny! Since when half-blood mudbloods and lunatics have the right to pick for others!" Draco snapped at him. "Go back and play with your wolves and demons Potter! This school doesn't need people like you!"
Harry grabbed Draco by the collar, bringing their faces together.
"Let go…," Draco warned, grappling pathetically in Harry's grip. Harry squeezed tighter and felt satisfaction as Malfoy sweated and squirmed with fear. "Talk about me as long as you want, talk about my friends or anyone that way again, and I'll kill you myself," Harry growled.
"You can't hit me, you don't have the guts…" Draco sneered.
"How about the two of you swap and take turns? As I remember, We can include both of you as seekers. Besides, I am sure that Durmstrang will have Krum as their seeker, and he is clearly the best, well, apart from yourself and Harry." Luna said.
Harry released the boy, nearly giving out as Malfoy tried to collect himself, gasping.
Harry couldn't stand to look at the vile creature before him anymore and made to leave or wanted to leave but no he won't. In his mind he could chastise himself for losing it like that. When his temper settled down, he could almost imagine regretting it, but he'd never quite get there.
"Of course, you can't do that without your bitch's consent," Draco smirked.
Whatever held Harry frozen in place until that point suddenly fractured at those words, like ice crumbling into water.
He knew no logic or reason. Only fury that called to be answered as Harry quickly whipped around and punched Draco straight at face, he stopped his own fist before hitting the ferret, and brought his broom between them, "Let's play…"
"Another Jar of Bat wings!" Daphne gasped while handing it down to Kreacher, "Honestly! What was your mistress's obsession over bats, this is the twelve jar I found today!"
Kreacher wanted to scold her for disrespecting Walburga, before he put the jar into a chest, but he couldn't because simply he owes her a respect.
Daphne smirked in victory for making the most arrogant and stubborn house-elf that she'd ever met in her life under her control, part of the gratitude goes to Molly, if it wasn't for her bickering over Kreacher, she would've never managed to make him obey.
She simply went against Molly's wishes to get rid of all the dark items in the basement that Kreacher kept, saying that belonged to the previous lord Black.
She felt pity for him, he was truly loyal to a house that was already dead, that was a rare gift, loyalty… and she respected his desire.
"Why don't we hide them all inside a chest with Black's crest, they are the legacy of house Black, to protect them! let Kreacher choose!" She smiled at him.
Kreacher at first didn't buy her offer but when she told that, she will ask Wallburga's approval for him.
It was the only peaceful choice to keep Molly and Kreacher out of each other's throat.
"Will the mistress let this here, Mistress Wallburga loved this hand here! " He tried to pursue her to leave some old wrinkled dirty mummy hand that was on the shelf, Daphne gave him a long stare before she nodded at him.
She hated the dark gloomy around the house and she wanted to get rid of them for good, besides Molly refused to get near those dark artefacts, however for Daphne it was easier, those tools weren't dangerous as they look.
Besides that magic was below hers and that energy was scared of hers, the only good thing that came from Lilith's magic that made her scare other weak creatures. The amount of contradiction in her body is unlimited, the dark power that emanates from Lilith subdues the magic of darkness, and her blood on the other hand makes her a delicious prey for other creatures. However in her new condition she couldn't take the risk to use her magic.
"Kreacher, did you renew the wallpaper like you promised me?" She asked him while cleaning.
"Mistress! Kreacher thinks that a light colour is an offensive choice," he was trying to get away from the task.
Daphne stopped midway and let a short pause of silence take over the place before, she dropped a jar to the ground and let whatever was inside, get ruined.
She turned slowly to Kreacher with a soft smile, " You Don't want me to burn the rest, Do you Kreacher?" Slowly flames began to rise around the shelf.
Kreacher paled and shook his head, "Kreacher will do it right away!"
"What a nice elf, he didn't even hesitate to do his chores!" She chuckled softly before feeling a bit dizzy and thirsty, going to the kitchen for water. She barely used fire and she was tired already. These symptoms were getting stronger.
She felt silky robes playing circles around her feet, not a cat , not a dog but a certain fluffy tiny pup of a certain nine tailed silver fox's clans, "And where have you been? Playing with Buckbeak again?"
The pups jumped woofing, bringing back Daphne's joy , they easily forgave her for abounding them in the the forest alone after they grew up a second tail, those baby children were just adorable and she couldn't keep them away for so long,
She bent on her knees and let them jump into her lap, caressing their fur.
Their magic was soothing hers, and soothing the baby. They were peaceful creatures and they were calming the baby a lot, she let them nuzzle her tummy with their noses and she sighed. Each passing day the baby was taking a lot of her energy and magic to grow up, the morning sickness never left and her magic was unstable, she barely did a charm without falling asleep seconds later.
Kou said that she made her mum feel this way too during the carrying, and that she kept feeding until birth. Was Harry right, the baby is a girl?
No, it was a boy!
A boy was a different story, he will be Harry's successor, he will be her pride and joy.
Molly dropped the dishes on the table, huffing "I told you not to let them here!"
"They are my friends, Molls!" Daphne pouted at the elder woman, and Molly gave her that pointy stare that her children know as the scolding stare. Training under the goddess of housekeeping for a long three months, closed the distance between the young pregnant girl and the mother of the Weasley clan, Daphne at some point started using the nickname Molls for their newly weird relationship.
It was a good thing to befriend the woman or else how could she survive this house, her next target was Madam Black, the woman was quite a challenge. But seeing how she managed this far with Molly and Kreacher, she could easily take down Walburga.
"–And I told you they will dirt the place and it's not good to have pets around during pregnancy, it is not good for the baby!"Molly approached her, ignoring the dramatic roll eye of the blonde, throwing her palm over to sense the little abdomen that started to form recently into a tiny bum.
" they're not pets, a few more months and they will be capable of shifting!" She gave them an encouraging thumb.
"How is our grandchild today?" Molly talked, sweetly.
Daphne smiled unconsciously at the warm touch, Molly was already acting like a grandma to her child, even knitting dozens of shirts and shoes to welcome the baby Potter. Another reason why their relationship improved, Her child won't suffer the loss of his both grandparents, Molly was there for him.
And they say "The grandmother's tenderness is stronger than the mother's"
"Annoyed, not liking the aura of the house and making his mummy throw all her delicious food, again," Daphne raised a brow, as if challenging her son to talk back at her.
Molly straightened herself and gave Daphne a playful slap on shoulder, "Hush! As if you were a good baby to your mum, every woman during pregnancy goes through the same thing, don't complain over the most beautiful miracle in life!"
"I do not complain, I don't even remember when was the last time I enjoyed a meal! Speaking of it, what's for dinner?" Daphne tapped the table, excitedly.
"I'm thinking of some about scotch eggs and beans, What about the potions Severus brought for you?"
"Didn't work! Please not the beans! the other night I had gas problems! No, absolutely not! "
"Am I imagining or Kreacher finally went nuts and decided to paint the house blue!" Remus entered, greeting the girls.
He waved his wand to bring down coffee and the daily prophet.
"You read till down again? And you call me a book worm… alright, Pay me up!" She drew her hand.
"For what?"
"You said I will never let Kreacher do anything," Daphne smiled, victoriously.
"Ha! I don't believe it!"
Daphne pursed her lips before calling Kreacher, "Kreacher, make the wallpaper light blue please,"
"Of course mistress!"
Daphne gave Remus 'I told you stare', he sighed, defeated, "Okay, where to?"
"Down the street, the cafe there sells the best battenberg cake!" She started dreaming about food.
"You'll let her robe you…" Molly laughed.
"Do I have a choice, last time she threw a chair at me because I forgot to bring her Turkish delight," He said while sipping his coffee, " where is Tonks?"
"She didn't come last night, I don't think she would ever show up after last night," Daphne shrugged.
Remus looked up, worried, "did something bad happen?"
Daphne went to a shelf and took a cookie jar, "You mean good, Someone asked her out on date and she said yes,"
"What!? Come again?" Daphne could feel without looking that Remus was in dilemma at the moment, which means, step one, the wolf fell into the bite.
"He seems nice, she told me that he was only two years senior in Hogwarts, a gentleman, not coming back means that the date went well, "
"Reckless…" He uttered.
"Why are you mad?" She smirked
"I'm not mad, but we're not in time to make relations, we don't know who to trust…"
"What do you mean we, Daphne, you're underage girl…" Tonks smiled.
"I'm sorry I didn't explain, by we I meant you and your boyfriend," Daphne gave her two dresses and some shoes while searching for matching accessories.
"Boyfriend?" Fleur asked,confused.
Daphne looked at Tonks seriously. "Werewolves have a very sharp instinct, and this instinct is rarely submit to its owner, let's say it is the real personality of the owner, the latter is the one who chooses its partner, most of the werewolves refuse to be in relationships because they do not accept the partner, and I think that Remus is among this case. Because he will suffer mentally from choosing the wrong mate. If the partner is the chosen one, blessed! and if not, then the end is clear, are you willing to take the risk, Tonks?"
Tonks hesitated and Daphne couldn't blame her, it was a yes or no in the matter, but she agreed.
"She's an Auror and old enough to take care of herself, let her have fun!"
"Young ones these days, you really don't know how to behave, back in my days, no man would court a lady without her parents approval, " Molly said.
"Oh, each era has its own way to have fun as if yours didn't play Molly?"
"Humph,. Wait when your child grows and we'll see about it," Molly's comment.
"Oh, my baby won't be able to hide anything from his mama, if the girl is not good, she wouldn't be even existing in his life, I will make sure of that,"
"Talking like you already know its gender, are you sure it's even a boy?"
"Very."
"But the gender spells didn't work right? "
Daphne glared down, the gender reveal spell didn't work, no matter how many times Madam Pomfrey casted on her, and it was weird, her child created a vail , quarantine itself off the world, she doesn't even know if it actually listens to what she whispers to it, all time.
Harry tried to communicate with it many times, the only response they got was the beating glow of its magic.
She talks to him all the time, the baby was her companion, her best friend and her secret Keeper, she wanted to listen to the beating heart of it. He was so calm and silent.
She was certain, it was a boy! She prayed for a boy, she didn't want a girl, she didn't want a girl to inherit the forbidden fruit, was it cruel to desire a boy to carry on her bloodline. She hoped God listened to her fears.
"He is a boy!" She cleared.
"Well I gave birth to seven so I can assure you, if you felt it, it's real!"
Daphne scuffed, "says the woman, who wished for a girl in each pregnancy! Your sweet gifts are weak madam,"
Molly smacked her on the head as she walked over the oven, preparing the dinner.
"Mistress the files you were expecting arrived and Winky put them in your desk," Winky popped to her
"Duty calls! I will be in my room," Daphne stood up and went to her room, followed by three pups.
She wrote several letters and sealed it with the Potter seal before handing it down to the small elf in the purple dress, "Winky takes this to Madam St. Claire tells her Mr Potter wishes her to get well soon!" Winky nodded, "and deliver the rest, quickly…"
"Yes! Mistress, Winky will deliver them in a blink of eye!"
Daphne sighed deeply, she laid on her back, it was aching as if her period was about to pop any minute now, tired she put her hand on her stomach, it started to show up.
"Mummy has a ton of paperwork that has to be done before turning them tomorrow, daddy will be surprised of what mummy's preparing for this summer,"
She felt a tickle in her womb and it made her smile, "Do you want to listen to a lullaby?"
Another tickle and she couldn't hold her joy. Wearing nothing but Harry's grey hoodie and sweatpants under it. It seemed recently that the only scent that she could stand was Harry's.
Singing to the baby, she heard humming and snapped. "Hades's ball! Harry!" holding the mirror between her fingers, fixing her hair.
"How is my pumpkin pie?" Harry smiled.
"Still waiting for that lemon tart you promised to bake," Daphne feigned a pout at him.
Harry bowed his head in a panicked frown, "I thought it was chocolate!"
"Changed my mind," she shrugged playfully, hearing his following laughter gave her a double relaxed sensation, Harry fixed his pose and cleared his throat, "You seem a bit pale and you lost some weight, do you still have morning sickness?"
Daphne blinked twice, touching her puffy cheeks, "Hey, I was told that my face is chubby, what a hypocrite!"
"Never! How was your day?" Harry asked worriedly, noticing her flushed cheeks.
"Same… reading, playing with the pups, Molly refuses to let me near the kitchen, but I always find my way!" Daphne said, bored.
"The Slytherin witch is getting the stock bankrupt, It's a good thing that Kou left the pups with you before he left, did he call?"
"Nope, once he leaves, he loses track of time, I hope he makes it back before I give birth." She smirked darkly for a second and brightened the next one, " How was yours? Did you make it in the Potions?"
Harry groaned and started talking about his day, "So, this is the comeback plan?" He waved a parchment to her.
"Did you read it?"She raised a brow, challenging.
"Yes," he scanned the words in the paper, "I'm not good at marketing like the twins or stuff like this but is it good?"
"I don't think it's bad idea, the company was closed for more than a decade, returning to the market needs time and effort, not to mention a good announcement, this may be perfect timing, summer is coming with breaks and all, people will need good safe travelling portkeys, Madam St Claire worked hard on those products with her team," Daphne put down the mirror in front of her while she was scrolling the first reviews.
"Well, you know I don't really care, my father never worked either and it seems fine to me whatever they will do, Madam St Claire can handle the business on her own," Harry said, boredly.
Daphne felt her cheeks redden, by the selfishness and laziness of her shitty miserable green eyed Gryffindor husband, she wanted to smack him at the moment, if only she could.
"You are the owner, act like one! my idea was instead of a big opening ceremony, they start from scratch, and by meaning…" she reached for a picture and offered it to Harry, "Ta da~"
After a second of an awkward silence, Harry finally spoke,"It's a small shop,"
Daphne wanted to roll her eyes and roar louder than a tiger, of course it was an old small shop but Harry must know what kind of shop this one was, "this was your grandfather's first shop! You need to do a damn research about your family's history Harry! How many times must I say this,"
"So?"
"Merlin! If we revive this one, old customers will come, nothing better in this time than a nostalgic shop, a safer and trustful potion and portkeys shop's return! I can already see the headlines…"
Harry smiled through the mirror, she looked passionate about this more than he was, and honestly she was…
"Have you offered it to Madame St Claire?"
As it turned out the London International Portkey office was a dead-end. No one had Portkey purchase for private reasons without amount of paperwork to be done with.
It was their daily routine, they talked before dinner, about everything, to ease the distance, Daphne keeps him informed of everything whether he likes it or not, she was not wicked to just let him sign anything, always telling him what was good or bad and encouraging him to show up more concern to the family's business, she just wanted to see the family always on Top, she writes his letters to the board of the company and he only sign them as confirmation. Always in contact with the president, asking her about her wellbeing instead of Harry, discussing financial matters of #12 with both Remus and Molly and since it was a headquarters, McGonagall was included because the budget of the Order was under her care. She was not a beginner, she was well raised with a full training and education. Daphne can't pop to Hogwarts anytime and Harry was busy with school and hunting, he tries his best to be home at least once a week.
That was difficult but she managed, he didn't tell her what he was doing but she guessed.
All for the weekends.
They were sacred days, they long to have each other's touch, they may say about them young lovebirds, but for them it was more than just love.
It was a Lifetime partnership!
She knew that Harry was providing their child with his energy enough so the baby won't take from her, but who was he kidding, it was mother nature thing, for the baby to take and feed from the mother, and it's the bless and glory of their bonding, it was the link to their connection.
Their baby will be the awaited miracle…
"–Harry! Ginny said she's waiting downstairs," Ron popped up at the door of the dorm.
Daphne's tired mind woke up when Ginny's name was mentioned at any discussion, Sorry Molly but I don't like you daughter, when she saw Harry finished his talk with Ron, she asked, "What's that?"
"Ginny and I are going to train a bit." Harry said, while he was to change his clothes, Daphne could feel her face freeze, angry inside or irritated, can't tell the difference.
"Train? Alone? With her?" She forced a smile,
Harry blinked few time, his smile dropping, for a some reason he felt nervous by the stare, he was receiving, "Yes, I-I mean she's troubled with some spell, quick catch up before DA meeting later so I won't stay long with her,"
Daphne hummed," How lovely! And then what? you sat by the fireplace snogging? Are you that desperate? If you go, I will burn her in her sleep,"
"It's just a catch up, she's my friend!" Harry frowned.
"There is no friendship between a girl and boy!" She snapped at him, it was really irritating, how he was so blind, he clearly saw Ginny as a sister but any wrong attention would be misunderstood.
"Is that so? And what do you call your friendship with Kou or mine with Hermione?"
"Don't change it, she's Granger! Not a teenage girl who has a crazy obsessive crush on you since–" Daphne groaned and dropped the mirror on bed.
"Hey where did you go, Hey!" She heard Harry shout from the other side.
"EATING! in case you forgot, I'M PREGNANT WITH YOUR FUCKIN CHILD!" She shouted before slamming the door behind her.
"What's wrong with her?" Harry raised a brow, clueless, they were fine just a couple of minutes ago, was she jealous of his female friends? Nah, she never reacted with Hermione.
…..
Daphne was not happy, how could he do this to her? He was enjoying his time with his friends. Okay he deserved it but not alone with that stupid ginger head, I'm sorry Molly but I can't handle that girl, my instinct says she a bitch.
Walking down the stairs a strong fragrance hit her and her stomach ached at second, not vomiting, she followed her nose and saw herself glaring at the wall, why was she glaring at the wall?
Her throat felt dry at the moment and she licked her lips, feeling her saliva falling, the wallpaper was torn outside and seemed delicious, tempting, it looked like seaweed ready to be filled with rice, a sweet delicious sushi.
She didn't even realise that her hand reached to that paper and tore a bit of it, leading it to her mouth. Once she started chewing it, it tasted like soil, so good… then the mid realisation hit her. She looked at her hand then at the wall, she remembered when Harry told her that she had an appetite to eat a building and she gasped.
"I'm eating a house!" She frowned, feeling her cheeks reddening and boiling, she glared around in panic, hoping no one saw her
She covered her face with her hands in embarrassment, to hide her gasp,"I ate a wall!" She hissed.
"Don't think I don't see what you're doing," Remus said, moving his rook to the spot that Daphne's knight had just claimed. His queen was protected now.
Daphne bit her lower lip, and took a sip of her daily warm milk. He could hear her curse under her breath.
"I figured I'd try it," Daphne said. "It worked before."
"Yes, you are quite a player."
"I'm only warming up, dearest Lupin," Daphne smirked, leaned towards the table where they had set up the board in Grimmauld Place's parlour and moved one of her pawns.
It was evening and Molly retreated earlier to her room while Bill and the rest had other things to do, Remus and Daphne found themselves in eachother's company that turned into an interested chess night,
Remus pondered the move and concluded that Daphne would either try to get that pawn queened, or she was simply setting up an ambush for Remus' queen again. He moved his queen to capture one of Daphne's other pawns just to be safe, though it wasn't altogether necessary.
Daphne's bishop crossed the board to take the square previously occupied by Remus' rook. Remus snickered and looked up to see Daphne, barely holding her I-told-you smirk.
"Proud of yourself?" Remus asked.
"Goodness! Of course not! I will have to take another sweet from you!" Daphne feinted a frown as she took a chocolate from the bowl next to the board.
"Then let's make it real and hard," Remus said.
Daphne smiled and Remus smiled back.
"How about something that worth the victory," she suggested and Remus raised a brow, she continued, "every winning move, the winner ask the loser a question and it's truth,"
Remus stared long at her face before he shook it, "nope…"
"What! Come on Remus, have some fun with me, I can amaze you!" She whined.
"Alright, but with no need for the game…" he waved his wand to remove the chess board and bring his tea instead.
"Well, Molly is not here…" she took a sip of her cup. "Go ahead…"
"Why did you suggest Hermione as a bride to Phobos?" He asked. It bothered him, endlessly and he needed answers.
Daphne looked up at him, with calm face and blinked slowly, preparing herself to satisfy the werewolf's curiosity...
Not long! Hope not bad!
What do you think!?